Removal is the first step of most replacement jobs and the whole job on some: the patio the last owner poured right against the foundation, the cracked driveway the HOA wants gone, a hot-tub pad, a stoop that heaved, an old garden-shed slab, a footing from a building that's coming down. We size the equipment to the slab and the access. That might be a skid steer with a breaker for a driveway, a mini-excavator through a side gate for a back-yard patio, or a jackhammer and wheelbarrows where nothing else fits. We saw-cut where the old concrete meets anything staying, such as the garage floor, the foundation or a neighbor's driveway, so it breaks clean along the cut and not into the slab you're keeping.
Before any digging, we file an 811 locate request. Idaho's damage-prevention law requires notice at least two business days ahead, and gas, power and fiber run under plenty of Meridian driveways. 811 does not mark private lines, though, and in Meridian the private lines are the issue. Most subdivisions have pressurized irrigation along the back and side lot lines, plus sprinkler laterals that run under walks and driveways. We locate and protect them, or cap and reroute them and leave a note of what we moved. If the slab is an approach, a curb cut or a sidewalk panel in ACHD's right-of-way, removal is right-of-way work and needs ACHD's permit like the pour does.
Broken concrete goes to a recycler that crushes it for base wherever one will take it. That's usually cheaper than a landfill, and clean, rebar-free concrete is easiest to place. Afterward we leave the ground graded so water runs away from the house and, as Meridian's code asks of parking areas, doesn't drain onto the neighbors or the walkways. If new concrete is going in, the base is compacted for it. If not, the area is ready for topsoil, sod or rock.
What's included
Utilities located
An 811 request at least two business days ahead, and private irrigation and sprinkler lines found by hand.
Clean edges
Saw cuts where old concrete meets the garage floor, foundation or anything staying.
The right machine
A breaker on a skid steer, a mini-excavator through the gate, or hand tools where access is tight.
Recycled where accepted
Broken concrete sent for crushing into base instead of landfill wherever possible.
Graded to drain
Ground left sloped away from the house and off neighbors' lots and walkways.
Ready for what's next
Compacted for a new slab, or prepared for topsoil, sod or rock.
Concrete removal costs in Meridian, ID
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway removal | $1.50 – $2.50 per sq ft | Saw-cut edges, haul, recycle |
| Patio or walk removal | $2 – $3.50 per sq ft | Tighter access |
| Stoop or steps removal | $400 – $1,200 | Size and thickness |
| Thick slab or footing, per sq ft | $4 – $8 | Rebar cut and hauled |
| Minimum call-out | $650 – $950 | Small pads and steps |
| Irrigation line cap or reroute | $150 – $600 | Depends on depth and fittings |
| Regrade and prepare for sod or rock | $1 – $2 per sq ft | After removal |
These are 2026 Treasure Valley ranges to help you budget. Your written price is itemized (removal, base, mix, thickness, reinforcement, finish, joints, sealer and any permit) and good for 30 days.
Recent work
Questions we get about concrete removal
Do I need a permit to remove concrete?
Not for a private driveway, patio or walk. Removing an approach, curb cut or sidewalk in ACHD right-of-way needs an ACHD permit. The 811 locate request is required either way.
Will you cut my sprinkler lines?
We try hard not to. 811 doesn't mark private irrigation, so we find the lines by hand, and if one has to move we cap and reroute it and tell you where it went.
Can you take out just part of a slab?
Yes. We saw-cut a straight line, break out the section and leave a clean edge for the new pour or for landscaping.
Where does the old concrete go?
To a recycler that crushes it into base wherever possible. It's usually cheaper than a landfill.
Will the equipment wreck my lawn?
We use tracked machines and lay mats across the lawn where we drive. There's usually some light rutting, and we regrade what we cross.
How long does it take?
Most driveway and patio removals take a day. A new pour can often follow within a few days once the base is ready.